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What We Believe

We believe that a loving God created everything there is, and that this creation and our relationship to God and each other is broken by sin, which came into play when the devil tempted our first parents to sin. The problem is so great that nothing we can do will repair it. But God is still loving, so He sent His Son, Jesus, to pay the price for that sin. His death paid the price, His resurrection proves it. By faith in Jesus, we are reconciled with God. Although we still live in a broken world, and none of us is perfect while we live on earth, by grace our sins are forgiven, and through faith we have new life in Christ and we wish to share this good news of forgiveness and love with you. Please read on for a more detailed look into "What We Believe."

Saint Paul's Lutheran Church is "Credal."

What does this mean? We believe and confess the Apostles, Nicene, and Athanasian creeds which have been a part of the Church since nearly the beginning. Here are some core tenets of our common faith as expressed in the Apostles' Creed:

I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth.

What does this mean?

God has created the universe and all things in it out of nothing by the power of His Word. Man is the crown of that creative work, and each one of us is created in the image of God, known by Him and beloved by Him before all time. We are not accidents of evolutionary processes but "fearfully and wonderfully made."

Luther's Small Catechism says this:

I believe that God has made me and all creatures; that He has given me my body and soul, eyes, ears, and all my limbs, my reason, and all my senses, and still preserves them; in addition thereto, clothing and shoes, meat and drink, house and homestead, wife and children, fields, cattle, and all my goods; that He provides me richly and daily with all that I need to support this body and life, protects me from all danger, and guards me and preserves me from all evil; and all this out of pure, fatherly, divine goodness and mercy, without any merit or worthiness in me; for all which I owe it to Him to thank, praise, serve, and obey Him. This is most certainly true.

The Creed continues:

And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary; suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; He descended into hell; the third day He rose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence He shall come to judge the quick and the dead.

What does this mean?

The first people, Adam and Eve, were decieved into sin by the devil who seeks to ruin as much of God's creation as possible before his end. The sin of the first people catastrophically changed creation, introducing death and decay, and separating man from personal interaction with God. Mankind can not repair the damage done, and each one of us, due to our own sin, contributes to the brokenness of creation and separation from God. In order to repair this broken relationship between God and mankind, sin had to be paid for, and Jesus Christ has accomplished that reconciliation. The Small Catechism explains:

I believe that Jesus Christ, true God, begotten of the Father from eternity, and also true man, born of the Virgin Mary, is my Lord, who has redeemed me, a lost and condemned creature, purchased and won [delivered] me from all sins, from death, and from the power of the devil, not with gold or silver, but with His holy, precious blood and with His innocent suffering and death, in order that I may be [wholly] His own, and live under Him in His kingdom, and serve Him in everlasting righteousness, innocence, and blessedness, even as He is risen from the dead, lives and reigns to all eternity. This is most certainly true.

The Creed continues:

I believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy Christian Church, the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. Amen.

What does this mean?

The Bible reveals God to be "Trinitarian," that is, 3 persons, but one God. The Holy Ghost (or Holy Spirit) is the third person of the Trinity and it is His work to create and sustain faith, to point to Jesus and his redeeming death on the cross. He begins the faith within us, guides us in the life of faith as Christians, gathers and preserves the Church. The Small Catechism once more explains:

I believe that I cannot by my own reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ, my Lord, or come to Him; but the Holy Ghost has called me by the Gospel, enlightened me with His gifts, sanctified and kept me in the true faith; even as He calls, gathers, enlightens, and sanctifies the whole Christian Church on earth, and keeps it with Jesus Christ in the one true faith; in which Christian Church He forgives daily and richly all sins to me and all believers, and at the last day will raise up me and all the dead, and will give to me and to all believers in Christ everlasting life. This is most certainly true.